After nearly two months of being at home on the mend from knee surgery, yours truly is back in the flesh at the Times-Republican.

I am temporarily working out of the advertising department on the ground floor to save my somewhat inflexible knee the challenges of climbing 26 steps to my cubicle on second floor.

On Monday — my first day back — I made it up six exterior steps leading to the building’s main entrance with help from my better half (She also gave me a ride to and from work, since I can not drive until my knee becomes more flexible).

A few short steps later, I was sitting down, fired up and ready to go.

The temporary work area was made possible by my boss Jeff Hutton, colleague Steve Plain, who set-up my work computer, Advertising Director Linda Gould, and the generous hospitality of co-workers in accounting, advertising and news.

And it was a thrill to be welcomed back by other co-workers too.

My accident last November was a textbook example of “Haste makes waste.”

An effort to save a minute by hurrying to get to my idling car sitting at curbside motivated me to take a short cut down an embankment.

Some short cut.

It made me slip and fall, resulting in a serious knee injury which required same-day surgery.

That was followed by a week-long stay at UnityPoint Health Marshalltown.

The care and concern from Emergency Department to Surgery to Food and Nutritional Services staff was truly outstanding, but home beckoned.

I would be remiss without saluting all the nurses and certified nursing assistants, who were all exemplary.

Again, I am grateful to the work by my lovely wife, who was a real trooper in making the porch and first floor of our home handicap accessible.

That is because I was hopping around on one-foot for several weeks, as my surgeon warned me of putting too much pressure on my knee.

Kudos also to Paul Heckman of American Legion Post 46.

That stellar organization loaned, free-of-charge, our family a sturdy walker, which has helped me safely navigate the first floor of our home, where I can access a kitchen and half-bath.

I have completed one week of physical therapy at the local Select Physical Therapy, and am looking forward to more sessions to get my knee back to good as new.

Readers, if you have story ideas, please contact me at 641-753-6611, or via my email below.

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Contact Mike Donahey at mdonahey@timesrepublican.com